Smithville gets unstuck just in time

Finds its shooting touch in topping Northwestern

SMITHVILLE -- Throughout the first three quarters, the Smithville girls basketball team's offense struggled mightily -- shooting just 7-for-31 from the field. With 1:08 left in the third period, after a wild shot by Northwestern, the ball became lodged behind the backboard and play was delayed. Eventually, Smithville assistant Jeff Pew retrieved the ball by poking at it with a long pole and play resumed.

After that point, the Smithies' shooters got unstuck as well.

Northwestern hung with Smithville, ranked No. 1 in Div. III, for the first 24 minutes, but the Smithies (17-0, 10-0 Wayne County Athletic League) eventually found their groove in the final frame, knocking down their first four field goals and making 10-of-13 from the line en route to a 46-33 victory. With the win, Smithville extends its regular-season winning streak to 41.

The Smithies shot just 14 percent in the first half, but coach Mike Miller had a clear message for his team at the break -- keep playing defense and the shots will fall.

"We got some looks and we were 3-of-21," said Miller. "A lot of that goes to (Northwestern's) defense -- it wasn't just us. We thought, 'We've only made three shots and we're tied.' We knew if we kept playing defense, we'd knock down shots."

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The five-time defending league champs did just that. The Huskies (8-6, 6-4) tied it at 25-25 on the first possession of the fourth quarter when Megan McKean, who finished with 10 points, knocked down a pair of free throws. From there, though, the Smithies reeled off an 11-1 run. Danielle Besancon started the streak by drilling a 3-pointer to break the tie. Johanna Hostetler split a pair at the foul line on the Huskies' next possession, but then Macy McKelley nailed a trey from the corner for a 31-26 advantage. After two missed shots by Northwestern, Smithville opened a double-digit advantage with another bucket by McKelley and one more from long distance, this one by Olivia Besancon, to make it 36-26.

"We were supposed to be patient," said McKelley, who had a team-high 13 points. "We were rushing our shots early but we were patient and they fell through."

Northwestern coach Scott Smith said he was adamant before the game that his team had to focus on defense -- especially on the perimeter. As a result, in the first 24 minutes the Smithies were just 3-of-18 from long range.

"We wanted to guard the 3-point line and stay in front," said Smith. "They executed the game plan very well."

Unfortunately for the

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Huskies, the Smithies eventually capitalized on a few open looks and that was the difference in the game. Smith, however, was proud became his team went toe to toe with the state's No. 1-ranked team on the road.

"I was so pleased with their effort and fight tonight," said Smith. "When you try to foul and stop the clock, the score pushes itself out, but we know the game was closer than that. We were right with them."

Miller said while his team wasn't able to break it open in the third quarter, it was able to establish an inside game with McKelley and Emily Caldwell, who had eight points. As a result, that opened the floor and set up the outside shots in the fourth.

"We felt if we kept moving the ball," said Miller, "we'd knock some shots down. We got the ball inside to Emily and Mary and that made a big difference."

The return of McKelley, a 5-foot-11 forward, has certainly been a boost for the Smithies. Last year, McKelley was the team's third-leading scorer off the bench, but missed the first 10 games due to illness. Miller said because the senior missed most of the preseason, she's still playing herself back into shape, but her play late in the game Thursday was the reason the Smithies are still in good shape -- two games ahead of second-place Chippewa (15-2, 8-2) before their meeting on Saturday.

"(She) gives us depth and allows us to move people in and out," said Miller. "It's nice to have somebody off the bench who can score and she stepped up tonight. She did it when we needed it."

On the night, neither team was able to drum up much offense, with the Huskies shooting just 12-for-32 (40 percent) and Smithville 11-for-37 (30 percent). Then again, Miller said when the two defensive-minded teams square off, in order to come out on top, one squad has to be able to win ugly.

"It's always a battle with Northwestern," said Miller. "Sometimes it's not the prettiest game because both teams sell out on defense."

Yet again the Smithies did just that and once the offense got untracked, they found a way to win. As a result, they find themselves in a familiar spot -- lodged at the top of the WCAL.

Andrew Vogel can be reached at 330-287-1624 or avogel@the-daily-record.com. Follow him on Twitter at @andvogel.